COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- Laura Persico, who recently completed her junior year at Nazareth, was one of 10  recipients Monday of the NYSWCAA Scholar-Athlete Award, presented at the organization's annual dinner at the Otesaga Hotel.

Persico, who excelled for Nazareth in volleyball and softball during the 2007-08 academic year, was presented the award by Nazareth soccer coach Gail Mann, who represented the Nazareth athletic department.

Persico has a grade-point average of 3.70 as a Comminication and Rhetoric major. She was a first-team Empire 8 Conference all-star in both volleyball and softball and helped both teams to post-season play.

A native of Ravena, N.Y. and a graduate of Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School, Persico was an honorable mention All-American as an outside hitter in volleyball. She led the Golden Flyers with 555 kills as the team finished 28-12 overall and reached the NCAA Division III Tournament. In softball, Persico led Nazareth in several statistical categories, including home runs (7), runs batted in (29) and batting average. Nazareth finished 18-20 overall in just its second season of intercollegiate play and reached the Empire 8 Conference Tournament.